Rugby players square up in cooking match

For immediate release

19 October 2010

Rugby players square up in cooking match

Former All Black Chris Masoe and France International rugby player Dimitri Szarzewski have taken part in a ‘Cooking Match’ organised by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in Paris on 18th October 2010, to showcase New Zealand’s high quality food and wine ahead of Rugby World Cup 2011.

The players teamed up with fellow nationals, Chef Hamish Brown and Chef Philippe Clergue, at the event at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school during SIAL, a global food trade show taking place in Paris from 17-21 October 2010.

Each team prepared a three course meal using premium New Zealand foods (including lamb, venison, Greenshell mussels, Pacific oysters, boysenberries, Manuka honey) and wine, in front of a live audience of French food and beverage buyers, distributors and media.

“Rugby World Cup is very high profile in France and NZTE used the event during SIAL to highlight the tournament as a six week celebration of all New Zealand has to offer, including its delicious food and wine,” says New Zealand Trade Commissioner for France, Ariane Gonzalez. 

“New Zealand’s produce is renowned for its high quality, freshness and flavour. Like the French, New Zealanders have a passion for food and wine, and at the cooking match we were proud to showcase many of our finest ingredients that are available in France.”

Eight New Zealand companies are present at SIAL which attracts 147,860 visitors from 185 countries.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is using the exposure that New Zealand gains through rugby to help promote trade with and investment in New Zealand in key markets, in the lead up to Rugby World Cup next year.
 

“We are inviting those visiting New Zealand in 2011 for Rugby World Cup to take part in food and wine events during the REAL New Zealand Showcase, which will be held throughout the country,” said Ms Gonzalez. “And we are encouraging French businesspeople to join the NZ 2011 Business Club.”

About NZTE

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the Government’s national economic development agency. Our job is to lift the country’s economic performance by helping more New Zealand businesses to grow and compete in international markets. Our services are tailored to business need and include programmes to improve productivity and customer focus,  build competitive advantage, develop international contacts, and provide access to capital and investment. We are a global organisation and our networks provide the international connections businesses need to grow internationally and to attract investment into New Zealand. For more information please visit www.nzte.govt.nz.

About the REAL New Zealand Showcase

The REAL New Zealand Showcase will provide an opportunity for the estimated 85,000 visitors to  Rugby World Cup to experience the best of New Zealand export businesses. NZTE is working with the NZ2011 Office to showcase New Zealand industries during the Showcase, in areas like food and beverage, marine and aviation, primary industry technology, and ICT and fashion, and to bring business and potential trade/investment partners together around the event.  Information about the Showcase programme can be found at www.nz2011.govt.nz

About the NZ2011 Business Club

The NZ 2011 Business Club has been set up by the Government to provide opportunities for New Zealanders to connect with businesspeople visiting for Rugby World Cup tournament. New Zealand businesspeople can sign up online to host an event or participate in regional activity.  

About Le Cordon Bleu

Founded in Paris in 1895, Le Cordon Bleu currently boasts 35 schools in 15 countries, and is recognized as one of the premier culinary arts institute in the world.  Developments in the curriculum of Le Cordon Bleu have led to the establishment of Bachelors and Masters degrees in hospitality management in cooperation with international universities.  Le Cordon Bleu has a tradition of excellence in the world of gastronomy and is committed to furthering the appreciation of fine food and the French art of living. Le Cordon Bleu will open a cookery school in Wellington in 2011.

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